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Rice fortification: a comparative analysis in mandated settings
Author(s) -
Forsman Carmen,
Milani Peiman,
Schondebare Jill A.,
Matthias Dipika,
Guyondet Christophe
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.12453
Subject(s) - business , government (linguistics) , sustainability , stewardship (theology) , private sector , legislation , distribution (mathematics) , industrial organization , public economics , economic growth , economics , political science , ecology , mathematical analysis , philosophy , linguistics , mathematics , politics , law , biology
Legal mandates can play an important role in the success of rice fortification programs that involve the private sector. However, merely enacting mandatory legislation does not guarantee success; it requires a coordinated, multidimensional cross‐sector effort that addresses stewardship, develops an appropriate rice fortification technology, enables sustainable production and distribution channels through a range of private‐sector players, ensures quality, generates consumer demand, and monitors progress. Furthermore, economic sustainability must be built into the supply chain and distribution network to enable the program to outlast government administrations and/or time‐limited funding. Hence, mandates can serve as valuable long‐term enablers of cross‐sector mobilization and collaboration and as catalysts of civil society engagement in and ownership of fortification programs. This paper compares the rice fortification experiences of Costa Rica and the Philippines—two countries with mandates, yet distinctly different industry landscapes. Costa Rica has achieved national success through strong government stewardship and active market development—key elements of success regardless of industry structure. With a comparatively more diffuse rice industry structure, the Philippines has also had success in limited geographies where key stakeholders have played an active role in market development. A comparative analysis provides lessons that may be relevant to other rice fortification programs.